Entering Apocalypse in Easy-Mode
Chapter 414: A Connection

Chapter 414: A Connection

Sonya dashed toward the severed hand. She glanced around, scanning her surroundings to see if anyone was watching. She regretted what she’d done—she shouldn’t have run. Walking casually would’ve drawn less suspicion. But it was too late now.

Fortunately, no one seemed to be looking her way. She crouched down and reached out to touch the severed hand.

A torn piece of a white coat was still attached to the arm. It was unmistakably Clyde’s—Sonya clearly remembered him wearing that coat during his battle with Hades and Gabriel.

Her hand froze just before touching the pale fingers. Something in her instincts warned her—this wasn’t a good idea.

But she knew she had to contact Clyde and Asqa, to find out what they were doing and to answer the questions swirling in her head.

"Shit! Why am I stuck in a situation like this?"

Still, what’s done is done. Sonya shook her head forcefully, trying to clear the thoughts crowding her mind.

Then she steeled herself and reached toward the cold, pale fingers. The moment her finger touched them, a strange sensation surged through her hand—spreading from the point of contact to the rest of her body.

Her head jerked upward. Her eyes turned pitch black. She saw a giant eye staring straight at her.

"You... ah, are you ready to receive my power?"

The voice echoed directly in her mind and soul. It was painful. The vision faded, and she collapsed to the ground.

Luckily, she didn’t scream—or she would’ve drawn attention. The pain faded quickly. Sonya didn’t know what had just happened, but that being... it was terrifying. She knew that if she’d stared into that eye for even a second longer, she might’ve lost her mind.

"What was that?" Sonya thought, confused.

She was sure this was Clyde’s hand, which meant whatever had just happened—that being—must be connected to Clyde.

---

At the same time, Clyde, who was in the middle of hunting monsters, suddenly felt something strange—like someone else’s presence had reached him.

He unleashed a devastating attack—lightning burst from his body, striking all the monsters around him and incinerating them in a flash of bright blue and white light. When the light faded, only scorched remnants remained.

"What was that?"

Clyde stood among the burned remains, his brow furrowed. It felt like someone had just touched his soul. Could this be the work of the Ancient One?

He flew toward a building, killing a few lingering monsters on the way, then stood still. Up here, in this tall structure, it was relatively safer than down below.

After a moment of stillness, he focused his mind and soul on the Ancient One’s presence within him. It didn’t take long to receive a response.

"Clyde. Something interesting is happening right now," said the Ancient One. Its voice now sounded like that of a middle-aged man, even though it used to constantly shift.

Something that piqued the interest of an old outer god?

"What is it?" Clyde asked.

"Someone made contact with your severed hand. That act, however small, brought her into contact with my essence. She touched it, and I’ve already entered her mind. That’s why you felt it. That’s why you also connected with her."

The Ancient One’s voice echoed calmly within Clyde’s mind, carrying the weight of ancient knowledge.

Clyde’s eyes narrowed as realization dawned. So that was what he felt—a link, brief but potent. He nodded slowly to himself.

"What should I do now?" he asked.

"Reach out to her," the Ancient One replied. "A mind touched by me is a valuable asset. More eyes, more influence. Another spy could serve you well."

"Agreed," Clyde responded.

With that, the presence of the Ancient One faded, the connection dissolving like smoke on the wind. Silence returned to Clyde’s thoughts, but his mind remained active—churning.

He stood still, lightning still flickering faintly along his fingertips as he stared out over the ruined cityscape. A new variable had entered the board—unexpected, but of course he welcomed it.

He hadn’t anticipated that someone who touched his severed hand would receive the Ancient One’s essence. But now... it made sense. Of course it did.

He was the Catalyst after all.

His entire existence, soul and body, had been altered to carry and channel that ancient force. If someone interacted with a part of him—especially something severed during battle, still soaked in power—they could become a vessel too. A connection.

And now, a stranger, well not exactly a stranger anymore had come to the group. A woman. Someone that somehow feels familiar to him.

Then he can see the glimpse of her face. it was Sonya.

A member of his old party.

Clyde stared into the horizon, the blue-white sparks fading as calm returned to his body.

"She’s part of this now," he muttered to himself. "Whether she wants it or not."

Clyde felt something shift inside him. A small flicker of warmth bloomed in his chest. He felt Relief and happiness.

After everything they’d been through, they had found Sonya. And not only was she alive. In fact, she had come into contact with him first.

A part of him that had long gone cold stirred with that realization.

"I think you’re still with us," he whispered under his breath, a faint, crooked smile breaking across his face. "Good."

Without wasting another second, Clyde shot into the air, becoming a blur streaking across the broken skyline. Debris scattered in his wake as he soared past shattered buildings and collapsed towers, eyes scanning the horizon.

Then—he saw them.

Explosions. Crimson flames erupting into the sky, energy dancing violently. Down below, on a street half-swallowed by craters and collapsed buildings, Asqa was locked in a dance of destruction.

Her body moved so fast, her attacks precise, honed, and ruthless. A swarm of mutated beasts charged at her but they stood no chance.

With a huge surge of power, she crushed them all in a spiraling wave of force that tore the earth apart.

Clyde hovered above, watching her with an approving nod. She was pushing herself and growing stronger. Just like he had hoped.

Asqa looked up the moment she sensed his presence. Her glowing eyes narrowed briefly, and then she straightened, dust and smoke billowing around her.

"You done watching?" she called out, her voice calm but sharp.

Clyde descended beside her, the ground crackling beneath his boots.

"I found her," he said simply.

Asqa’s breath caught. "Who?"

He didn’t answer at first. Just looked at her.

Then he said, "Sonya."

Asqa’s eyes widened, the battle haze vanishing instantly.

"What?"

"She made contact. With me," Clyde continued. "She touched my severed hand... and the Ancient One’s essence reached her."

A long silence stretched between them.

Then slowly, a smile spread across Asqa’s face. The kind of smile Clyde hadn’t seen in a long time.

"She’s alive," Asqa whispered. "She’s really alive..."

Clyde gave a quiet nod. "And more than that—she came looking for us first. I don’t know how or why she ended up near the battlefield, but she made the first move. I hope she’s in with us."

Asqa looked off into the distance, her expression shifting between awe and determination. "We need to bring her to us, then."

"We will," Clyde said. "But not recklessly. She’s already linked to me now—through the Ancient One. We can use that connection."

Asqa’s smile faded into a focused gaze. "Then we’ll find a way to reach her."

---

Back in Gabriel’s domain, Sonya stood still for a moment. Her body had returned to its original state—no pain or ache from the overwhelming presence she’d felt earlier.

It was as if nothing had happened. The only thing left was the memory—the echo of that eye... and the voice.

She blinked a few times, clearing the last bit of dizziness, then looked around.

The others were still scattered across the ruined domain, scavenging for clues, or anything they could use. No one had seen her fall. No one had noticed her momentary possession. That was good.

Without a word, she crouched down again and calmly retrieved the severed hand. She put it into her Inventory with a simple thought. The System chimed faintly in her mind, confirming the addition.

Then, standing up, she dusted herself off and made a show of glancing around, eyes squinting like she was trying to make sense of the debris and broken architecture.

She even called out a few observations. Asked a few questions. Played the role. One of the scouts responded with a shrug and pointed toward a collapsed pillar. Sonya nodded and wandered that way, blending in, letting time pass naturally.

The hours dragged by, filled with subtle interactions.

Eventually, Sonya made her move. She slipped away.

She reached the far side of the cathedral ruins where the light were dimmer.

She activated the portal, and the swirling gateway flared to life in front of her.

Without looking back, Sonya stepped through.

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